2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-09-09UTC14:17:17+00:002016-09-09Kent Nagano and OSM wowed with cerebral approach to Carmina Burana.OSM opens its season with a sophisticated Carmina Buranaen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-carmina-burana-nagano-osm-montreal-september-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/45386-kent-nagano-felix-broede4-resized.jpg300450Kent NaganoFelix Broede2016-Sep-07, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Carmina Burana opens the Seasonhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/carmina-burana-opens-the-season/07-september-2016/19-002016-09-072016-09-10La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.5663735866547https://bachtrack.com/files/40232-osm.jpg5

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-05-27UTC11:40:26+00:002016-05-26The OSM closes out the 2015-16 season with all guns blazing and an ethereal flag of peace in a splendid battle of Britten.
Britten's War Requiem makes for an heroic season's end for the OSMen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-britten-war-requiem-nagano-bostridge-montreal-may-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngPatricia Maunderhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/files/43994-patricia-maunder.jpgPatricia Maunder has been an arts journalist for more than 20 years, contributing to publications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK including The Sydney Morning Herald and Opera magazine. She is based in Melbourne, but considers Montreal her 'other' hometown after living there in 2012-16. For more about Patricia, visit her website.https://bachtrack.com/files/40137-ian-bostridge-sim-canetty-clarke-resized.jpg510340Ian BostridgeSim Canetty-Clarke2016-May-25, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: War Requiemhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/war-requiem/25-may-2016/20-002016-05-252016-05-29La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.5663735866547https://bachtrack.com/files/40134-orchestre-symphonique-montreal-logo.jpg5

2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-04-22UTC09:49:35+00:002016-02-01An impressive trio of international singers carry Opéra de Montréal's traditional new production of this Verdi tragedy.
Montreal's Otello ticks the boxesen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-otello-benedikt-omura-montreal-january-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngPatricia Maunderhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/files/43994-patricia-maunder.jpgPatricia Maunder has been an arts journalist for more than 20 years, contributing to publications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK including The Sydney Morning Herald and Opera magazine. She is based in Melbourne, but considers Montreal her 'other' hometown after living there in 2012-16. For more about Patricia, visit her website.https://bachtrack.com/files/33886-otello_kristian_benedikt_montreal_yves_renaud_cropped.jpg300423Kristian Benedikt (Otello)Yves Renaud2016-Jan-30, Place des Arts: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier: Otellohttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/place-des-arts-salle-wilfrid-pelletier/otello/30-january-2016/19-302016-01-302016-02-06Place des Arts: Salle Wilfrid-PelletierMontrealQuebecCanadaH2X 1Z8175 Sainte-Catherine Street West45.50826-73.56548954

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-12-21UTC08:56:43+00:002015-12-18It was no Christmas miracle, but the OSM's technically strong Bach concert brought a dignified kind of cheer to the most wonderful time of the year.Montreal's Christmas Oratorio a little naughty, mostly niceen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bach-christmas-oratorio-nelson-montreal-december-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngPatricia Maunderhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19536https://bachtrack.com/files/43994-patricia-maunder.jpgPatricia Maunder has been an arts journalist for more than 20 years, contributing to publications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK including The Sydney Morning Herald and Opera magazine. She is based in Melbourne, but considers Montreal her 'other' hometown after living there in 2012-16. For more about Patricia, visit her website.https://bachtrack.com/files/32352-kathryn_lewek_athole_still_resized.jpg300451Kathryn LewekAthole Still2015-Dec-16, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Bach's Christmas Oratoriohttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/bachs-christmas-oratorio/16-december-2015/20-002015-12-162015-12-17La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-12-07UTC10:28:33+00:002015-12-05Nicolaj Znaider proves a better conductor than soloist with the OSM in programme of works by Mozart, Smetana and Dvořák. OSM in gripping and intense performance of Dvořák’s Seventhen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-dvorak-znaider-orchestre-montreal-december-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/24151-nikolaj_znaider_lars_gundersen3.jpg510368Nikolaj ZnaiderLars Gundersen2015-Dec-02, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Znaider performs and conducts Mozarthttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/znaider-performs-and-conducts-mozart/02-december-2015/20-002015-12-022015-12-03La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

With Penderecki conducting his own work, this concert demonstrated the possibilities of orchestral colour filtered through a post-Romantic lens, but was confronted with issues of balance and refinement.

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-09-14UTC14:44:59+00:002015-09-12Kent Nagano and the OSM came up trumps in concert version of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.Kent Nagano and the OSM come up trumps in Pelléas et Mélisandeen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-pelleas-melisande-nagano-osm-montreal-september-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/28147-kent_nagano_felix_broede2_resized.jpg300374Kent NaganoFelix Broede2015-Sep-08, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Pelléas et Mélisandehttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/pelleas-et-melisande/08-september-2015/20-002015-09-082015-09-09La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-04-27UTC13:59:18+00:002015-04-24Ranging from the famous Grieg Piano Concerto to a lesser known work of Sibelius, this concert featured a vast array of orchestral colour evoking the shimmering landscapes of the North.Storgårds leads a Nordic journey in Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-nielsen-storgards-montreal-april-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngChristina Volpinihttps://bachtrack.com/files/9111-john_storgards_marco_borggreve2.jpg300368John StorgårdsMarco Borggreve2015-Apr-22, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Une saga nordiquehttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/une-saga-nordique/22-april-2015/19-002015-04-222015-04-26La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-03-31UTC17:04:09+00:002015-03-31Works of Chopin and Tchaikovsky on this concert displayed the two faces of Romantic music – the quiet intimacy of the individual and the expressive power of the whole. Lugansky and Mena Dazzle in Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-lugansky-mena-chopin-tchaikovsky-montreal-march-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngChristina Volpinihttps://bachtrack.com/files/8806-nikolai_lugansky_high_res_1___credit_marco_borggreve_naa_ve_ambroisie.jpg320480Nikolai LuganskyMarco Borggreve Naāve-Ambrosie2015-Mar-26, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Le coeur slavehttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/le-coeur-slave/26-march-2015/20-002015-03-262015-03-28La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-02-23UTC09:34:54+00:002015-02-21This concert was an intimate occasion to witness a master pianist breathe life in to favourites as well as lesser known works for the piano.A spirited evening with Emanuel Ax in Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-emanuel-ax-montreal-february-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngChristina Volpinihttps://bachtrack.com/files/8296-emanuel_ax_lisa_marie_mazzucco.jpg510347Emanuel AxLisa Marie Mazzucco | Sony Classical2015-Feb-20, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Emanuel Ax in recitalhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/emanuel-ax-in-recital/20-february-2015/20-002015-02-202015-02-20La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665475

2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-01-16UTC11:18:09+00:002015-01-16The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s program was a collage-like display of the diverse music that emerged from composers in New York City from 1936 to 1956. Bold and eclectic: Nagano commanding in Bartók in Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bartok-nagano-montreal-january-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngChristina Volpinihttps://bachtrack.com/files/7854-kent_nagano_b_ealovega.jpg275380Kent NaganoBenjamin Ealovega2015-Jan-13, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Dumay rencontre Bartókhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/dumay-rencontre-bartok/13-january-2015/20-002015-01-132015-01-15La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-12-04UTC13:09:48+00:002014-11-28Kent Nagano and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra perform Mozart favourites and Saint-Saëns' third violin concertoMontreal Symphony Orchestra like a well-groomed gentleman in Mozart and Saint-Saënsen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-nagano-montreal-symphony-mozart-saint-saens-november-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/7506-kent_nagano_felix_broede.jpg300427Kent NaganoFelix Broede2014-Nov-27, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Le Troisième concerto de Saint-Saënshttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/le-troisieme-concerto-de-saint-saens/27-november-2014/19-002014-11-272014-11-27La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-04-28UTC10:28:24+00:002014-04-28Yuja Wang has the virtuosity for Rachmaninov in spades and stamina to spare, but her technically brilliant performance raised the question of whether it all wasn’t a little too easy.Yuja Wang sails through Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no. 3en_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-yuja-wang-casadesus-montreal-apr-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMarc Wieserhttps://bachtrack.com/files/5079-yuja_wang_courtesy_shuman_associates.jpg510330Yuja WangCourtesy of Shuman Associates2014-Apr-26, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Yuja Wang for the first time at the OSMhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/yuja-wang-for-the-first-time-at-the-osm/26-april-2014/20-002014-04-262014-04-26La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

Michel Plasson returns to l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal in a program of French music and Karina Gauvin resplendent in Britten's Les Illuminations. It was an object lesson in how to capture the essential essence of French music.

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-04-07UTC13:46:07+00:002014-04-04Michel Plasson returns to l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal in a program of French music and Karina Gauvin resplendent in Britten's Les Illuminations. It was an object lesson in how to capture the essential essence of French music. Michel Plasson inspires the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Karina Gauvin in a program of French delightsen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-osm-plasson-gauvin-april-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngRichard Turphttps://bachtrack.com/files/4868-karina_gauvin_michael_slobodian300.jpg300452Karina GauvinMichael Slobodian2014-Apr-03, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre symphonique de Montréalhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/orchestre-symphonique-de-montreal/03-april-2014/20-002014-04-032014-04-03La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

A substantial musical menu of works by Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz, the poster boys of 19th century Romanticism, along with a world première, presented by l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Marc-André Hamelin and Kent Nagano.

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-01-27UTC12:20:35+00:002014-01-27The Opéra de Montréal's production of Porgy and Bess is both an artistic success and a reaffirmation of the work's importance.Porgy and Bess at the Opéra de Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-jan-2014-montreal-porgyBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngRichard Turphttps://bachtrack.com/files/4097-chantale_nurse_____yves_renaud_.jpg510340Chantale NurseYves Renaud2014-Jan-25, Place des Arts: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier: Porgy and Besshttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/place-des-arts-salle-wilfrid-pelletier/porgy-and-bess/25-january-2014/19-302014-01-252014-02-03Place des Arts: Salle Wilfrid-PelletierMontrealQuebecCanadaH2X 1Z8175 Sainte-Catherine Street West45.50826-73.56548954

2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-01-13UTC09:39:39+00:002014-01-12The OSM opened their 2014 offering with an evening of Beethoven. Kent Nagano was at the helm with pianist Radu Lupu as the soloist in the Fourth Piano Concerto.Beethoven's “lesser” symphonies with the OSM and Naganoen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-jan-2014-montreal-osm-beethovenBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMarc Wieserhttps://bachtrack.com/files/3989-c_felix_broede_mg_1001.jpg346321Kent NaganoFelix Broede2014-Jan-09, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre symphonique de Montréalhttps://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/la-maison-symphonique-de-montreal/orchestre-symphonique-de-montreal/09-january-2014/20-002014-01-092014-01-09La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

Every city has its favourites, and Jan Lisiecki is Montreal’s darling. There was a sense of proprietary pride in the audience as he strode across the stage at the Maison Symphonique, to join Kazushi Ono and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-12-03UTC09:01:25+00:002013-12-02Every city has its favourites, and Jan Lisiecki is Montreal’s darling. There was a sense of proprietary pride in the audience as he strode across the stage at the Maison Symphonique, to join Kazushi Ono and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.Jan Lisiecki plays Schumann with Kazushi Ono and the OSMen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-dec-2013-osm-ono-lisieckiBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMarc Wieserhttps://bachtrack.com/files/3799-jan_lisiecki.jpg650453Jan Lisiecki2013-Nov-28, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre symphonique de Montréalhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-dec-2013-osm-ono-lisiecki2013-11-282013-11-28La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

This seemingly disjointed program from Jacques Lacombe and the Orchestra Symphonique de Montréal included music by Berlioz, Dvořák and Ravel, in addition to a new work by Serge Arcuri: all voyages of complementary but fundamentally different kinds.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-29UTC11:11:33+00:002013-11-22Richard Turp reviews the return of a prodigal son and the creation of a new work for violin and orchestra by Serge Arcuri at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s latest concert at the Maison symphonique in Montreal.Lacombe and the OSM in a quartet of engaging musical voyagesen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-nov-2013-osm-lacombe-wanBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngRichard Turphttps://bachtrack.com/files/3774-lacombe3jfberube.jpg400400Jacques Lacombe J.F. Bérubé2013-Nov-20, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre symphonique de Montréalhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-nov-2013-osm-lacombe-wan2013-11-202013-11-20La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

Though museums have long been host to musical events, a partnership between the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal with conductor Kent Nagano and Musée des Beaux-arts de Montréal brought art to the concert hall this Wednesday evening.

2013Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:53:40+00:002013-10-31The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) and Musée des Beaux-arts de Montréal (MBAM) presented and evening of art and music, including newly commissioned works as well as pieces by Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Haydn.An evening of art and music at the Maison Symphonique de Montréalen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-oct-2013-osm-musee-beaux-arts-pictures-exhibitionBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngStephen Raskauskas2013-Oct-30, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre symphonique de Montréalhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-oct-2013-osm-musee-beaux-arts-pictures-exhibition2013-10-302013-10-30La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

Joan of Arc endures even today as one of history’s most obsessed-about martyrs. It’s no wonder when you consider that her story is of such uniqueness and potency: a poor, low-born French villager submerged in a war-battered France; it was the Hundred Years’ War, and as a child she witnessed several raids, both military and outlaw, and on one occasion saw her village burned.

The program this evening was quite significantly lopsided – though most programs containing Mahler symphonies end up being this way. Tonight’s juxtaposition was quite profound, perhaps even more than usual. Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 18 in B flat major was poised like a pebble next to a mountain. It was a polished pebble, but minuscule in comparison nonetheless.

Tonight’s OSM concert began introspectively, deep down in the baritone register of Brian Manker’s cello, accompanied warmly by his section and the contrabasses. Rossini’s overture to William Tell is both immediately recognizable and perilously difficult – virtually every section of the orchestra is highlighted, and quite often pushed to technical extremes.

If you like your Beethoven clean, precise and streamlined, you should go hear Kent Nagano and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra perform the First and Seventh Symphonies, along with the Berg Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory at the Maison Symphonique.

Carl Dahlhaus called Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem “one of those works in which the 19th century recognized its own identity”. This weighty statement was not only inspired by the great success the work found at its première, but also by the stylistic nature of the music and choice of text.

With the recent bout of Siberian weather in Montreal, last night’s evening of Russian music at the Maison Symphonique felt positively balmy. Under the baton of Russian conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, and featuring his wife Viktoria Postnikova on piano, the OSM’s performance of two works by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky brought a little warmth to our snow-frozen city.

According to General and Production Director Pierre Dufour, tonight’s production of Die Fledermaus, or in this case La Chauve Souris, was to be in the style of the vaudeville and burlesque. Set in 1930’s upper class Montréal, the production was purchased from Opera Australia though Stage Director Oriol Tomas’s conceptual influence would prove wholly original.

Last night’s concert featured the Québec native pianist and frequent OSM guest Alain Lefèvre and the guest conductor Ludovic Morlot, Music Director of the Seattle Symphony. The program was dedicated to cellist, educator and founder of I Musici de Montréal Yuli Turovsky, who died yesterday.

Christmastime comes with its musical traditions, from sing-along Messiahs to Christmas carols to Mariah Carey singing “All I Want for Christmas is You”. And there’s no denying that shouting any of the above at the top of your lungs will immediately get you into the Christmas spirit.

My return to La Maison Symphonique in Montreal on Wednesday was a bag full of surprises. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal opened with a work I didn’t even know was on the programme; the accompanying orchestra put in a stronger showing than the soloist in the concerto; and a difficult symphony was done so well it practically jumped at the audience.

2012Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:35:26+00:002012-11-30Alan Yu reviews Vasily Petrenko with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal at the Maison Symphonique.Vasily Petrenko conducts the OSM in Barber and Shostakovichen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-orchestre-metropolitan-de-montreal-petrenko-shostakovichBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/1992-osm_sm.jpg400400Benjamin Britten At Crag House; photo by Roland HauptBritten–Pears Foundation2012-Nov-28, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: OSM: Barber & Shostakovichhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-orchestre-metropolitan-de-montreal-petrenko-shostakovich2012-11-282012-11-28La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665474

Kent Nagano took to the stage tonight, microphone in hand, slowly becoming encircled by a forest of empty music stands, 50 in all. It is only natural to provide a word of explanation for a concert which contained Ligeti’s Fluxus piece Poème symphonique, scored for 100 metronomes, and Reich’s Clapping Music, amidst more standard works.

Conductor Julian Kuerti and violinist Karen Gomyo joined the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal tonight as guests for a rather peculiar concert of Vivaldi, Longtin and Prokofiev. A Baroque solo work, a contemporary work and a large standard orchestral work – this is certainly not an unusual makeup for a program, but the way in which these works were presented was quite unexpected.

Tonight’s concert was certainly one of the most unusual offered by the OSM in the Maison Symphonique thus far. It is indeed laudable for an orchestra to reach out to newer and younger audiences, and this is one of Kent Nagano’s strengths. Tonight’s presentation of the savage and revolutionary Le Sacre du Printemps alongside a new work for turntables and orchestra attempted to do just that.

In recent seasons the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal has had a tradition of crafting remarkably excellent programs which not only entertain, but suggest a dramatic or historical link between the featured works. Tonight was no exception: it was a program united by dances, by Spain and by Impressionism. Most strikingly, it was an evening featuring brilliant orchestrators.

The Montreal International Musical Competition, this year devoted to voice, ended on a high note with the Winners’ Gala Concert on June 8. First, Second and Third Prize winners sang two arias each, but, in a gratifying show of solidarity with the remaining finalists, the program afforded concertgoers the opportunity to hear the five runners-up as well.

2012Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-07-13UTC09:13:23+00:002012-06-11Robert Markow reviews the final of the Montreal International Musical Competition 2012.Philippe Sly Hits the Jackpot in Montreal Voice Competitionen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-motreal-international-musical-competition-final-2012Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngRobert Markowhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19095https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19095https://bachtrack.com/files/44606-robert-markow.jpgFormerly a horn player in the Montreal Symphony, Robert Markow now writes programme notes for that orchestra and for many other musical organizations. He taught at Montreal’s McGill University for many years, has led music tours to several countries, and has written for numerous leading classical music journals.https://bachtrack.com/files/1415-montreal_competition.jpg400267John Brancy (Baritone, United States, 3rd Prize), Philippe Sly (Bass baritone, Canada, 1st Prize), O Gunther Gamper2012-Jun-08, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Montreal International Music Competition 2012https://bachtrack.com/listing-motreal-international-musical-competition-final-20122012-06-082012-06-08La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.5663735866547

The concert by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) on Monday concluded its 2011/2012 season, the first in its new home at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal.The evening got off to an upbeat start with Berlioz’s Le Corsaire overture. As a composer of overtures, Hector Berlioz may well have been the torchbearer for the Beethovenian tradition.

2012Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2013-11-07UTC16:27:12+00:002012-05-30Alan Yu reviews Kent Nagano and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal play Berlioz, Shostakovich and Ravel at the Maison Symphonique.Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Cirque Éloize in Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloéen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-osm-maison-symphonique-montreal-ravelBachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngAlan Yuhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/147https://bachtrack.com/files/40588-alan-yu.jpgThe first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.https://bachtrack.com/files/1378-129_kentnagano_highres_mar2010cb_ealovega___2_mb.jpg400400Kent Nagano Benjamin Eagolvea2012-May-28, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal: Orchestre Symphonique de Montrealhttps://bachtrack.com/listing-osm-maison-symphonique-montreal-ravel2012-05-282012-05-28La Maison Symphonique de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada1600, rue Saint-Urbain45.509610092797-73.56637358665473

Kent Nagano has a long history of inventive programming, particularly in the chamber music repertoire. His first real break came in 1982 when he was personally chosen by Frank Zappa to record some of his orchestral music with the London Symphony.